Electronic ship&#39;s clock



Oct. 12, 1965 F. 1.. DODD 3,210,924

ELECTRONIC SHIPS CLOCK Filed Aug. 2, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l 6 AMCZ 0 75? WW5? @P H FbM/E? AM/ INVENTOR. FRANClS L. DODD W/m 4* WW ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,210,924 ELECTRONIC SHIPS CLOCK Francis L. Dodd, Areys Lane, Orleans, Mass. Filed Aug. 2, 1962, Ser. No. 214,381 4 Claims. (CI. 58-38) This invention relates generally to electronic time signalling devices and more particularly concerns a novel apparatus for generating programmed tone signals corresponding to a ships bell system.

By custom shipboard time is indicated by bells rather than by conventional clock time and, according to this system, from 1 to 8 bells or tone signals are sounded in half-hour intervals every four hour period. For example, one bell corresponds to 12:30 oclock, two bells corresponds to 1 oclock, and so forth up to 8 bells which corresponds to 4 oclock.

Ships clocks have, of course, been employed for years to produce time signals which follow the ships bell system, but the signals from these clocks can be heard only over a relatively small area and the tone produced is usually quite different from that of an actual ships bell. While various amplifying systems could be connected to a ship clock to increase its volume, the quality of the signal would still be lacking and, in addition, the background noise, produced by the clocks running mechanism, would also be amplified. Conventional ships clocks have enjoyed a wide popularity among ship owners as well as among nautically minded land-locked sailors, however, for reasons stated above, these clocks have had rather limited utility.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide improvements in ships clocks.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ships clock which is capable of faithfully reproducing the tone of a ships bell in the proper timed sequence of a ships bell system.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an integrated time signal and amplification system capable of generating a pure tone signal substantially free of background noise.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a novel programming system for operating a time signal device.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a tone generator of improved construction and design.

More particularly, this invention features a time signal system comprising a clock, a programming device operatively associated with the clock, a tone generator actu ated in response to signals from the programming device and an amplifying system which under the control of programming device, is energized only during periods of operation of the tone generator and which is adapted to amplify only the tone generator signal. As another feature of this invention, the system is adapted to include one or more remote speakers which may functiofi as microphones to form an intercom system. Yet another feature of .this invention involves an adjustable output tone generator employing an adjustable striking device.

But these and other features of this invention, along wtih further objects and advantages thereof, will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of an electronic ships clock made according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the clock with thehousingremoved,

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FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the clock shown in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the FIG. 2 clock,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in side elevation of the tone generator, and,

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the circuit for operating the clock.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference character 10 generally indicates a box cabinet housing an electric clock 12, a programming system 14, a tone generator 16, an amplifying system 18 and a speaker 20. The dial of the clock 12 appears through an opening formed in the front panel of the cabinet 10 while the clock itself is supported on a frame 22 located within the cabinet and attached in spaced parallel relation to the front panel by supporting rods 24.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the clock comprises a motor 26 mounted to the frame 22 and having a rotor 28 carrying a sweep second hand 30, a minute hand 32 and an hour hand 34. The second hand 30 is rotatable with the rotor 28 while the minute and hour hands are separately driven through reduction gearing 36. The rotor 28 also carries a finger 38 which is adapted to close the contacts of a normally open switch 40 for a few seconds once every minute and just prior to the second hand 30 reaching 12 oclock. The switch 40 is mounted to the frame 22 and serves to open and close a circuit to a motor 42 which drives the programming system 14.

Mounted also to the frame 22 and about the periphery of the clock dial are normally open switches 44 and 46. Both switches are actuated by the minute hand 32 which is provided with a right angular insulated extension 48 for engaging the switch contacts.

With the closing of the switch 40 and either of the switches 44 and 46, a circuit is completed both to the motor 42 and to a pair of transformers 50 and 51. The secondary of the transformer 50 is connected to a solenoid 52 for the tone generator 16 by a pair of leads 54 and 56, with the lead 54 being interrupted by a twoway manual control switch 58 for silencing purposes and a normally open solenoid-actuating switch 60. A normally closed switch 64 is also included in the control circult to provide a parallel circuit to the motor 42 and transformers 50 and 51. The transformer 51 is provided to energize a power supply 66 which, in turn, feeds an amplifier 68 and .both of which employ semi-conductor components for instantaneous, low voltage response. A tone signal pickup 70, which will be described in detail below, is connected by leads 72 and 74 to the amplifier 68 so that the signal produced by the tone generator 16 may be amplified and fed to the speaker 20. For convenience, the .control switch 58 may be connected by a linkage 75 to the amplifier to regulate its output.

Both switches 60 and 64 constitute part of the programming system 14 which also includes a programming wheel 78 .drivingly connected to the motor 42. Preferably, the wheel is fabricated from a rigid plastic ma.- terial such as lucite, or the like, and is formed with a plurality of radial notches 80 about its periphery. It will be noted in FIGS. 3 and 4 that the contacts of the switch .60 are arranged generally tangential to the periphery of the wheel 78 so that the upper contact (FIG. 4), which is formed with a depending leg 82, will move in and out of the notches 80 as the wheel 78 is rotated. This will open and close the switch 60 and thereby actuate the solenoid 52 causing the tone generator 16 to produce a signal.

Mounted to the wheel 78 and extending outwardly from its back surface are a number of pins 84 which, on rotation of the wheel 78, are adapted to open and close the contacts of the switch 64 mounted adjacent to the switch 60. The notches 80 are arranged in groups, ranging progressively from one to eight notches per group, with each group having an associated pin 84. These pins are adapted to open the switch 64 after a group of notches has passed under the switch 60, opening and closing switch 60. as many times as there are notches in the particular group.

In practice, the clock is initially set at the correct time, with the finger 38 set to close switch 40 at the same time that the minute hand 32 closes either switch 44 or switch 46. When the clock has been properly set, its operation will then be automatic. Assuming the clock to be in the position shown in FIG. 4, it will be seen that with the hands having just passed three oclock, switches 40, 44,

46, 60 and 64 will be open while switch 58 will normally be kept closed. Switch 60 will be kept open by reason of the fact that the wheel 78 is at rest in a po- 'sition where the switch contact 82 will be bearing against the outer peripheral edge of the wheel. Switch 64 at the same time will be held open by a pin 84. As the minute hand 48 subsequently approaches and closes the switch 46 at 3:30 oclock, the finger 38 will close switch 40 for a few seconds as the second hand 30 passes top dead center. This will complete a circuit to the motor 42, and through a lead 86, to the transformers 50 and 51, thereby energizing the power supply 66, the amplifier 68 and the pickup 70. It will be appreciated that by using a transistorized circuit in the power supply and amplifier, there is no need for a preliminary warming up period and the system will be responsive almost immediately upon energization.

As the motor 42 starts to run and the programming wheel 78 starts to rotate, the pin 84 that had been holding switch 64 open will move out of engagement with the pin, permitting the switch to close. With switch 64 closed, a parallel circuit will be completed to both the motor 42 and the transformers 50 and 51, thereby permitting these components to continue operation after the switches 40 and 46 open as the finger 38 and the hand 48 respectively, move out of contact with them. As the programming wheel rotates further, the depending leg 82 of the switch 60 will drop into the first of a group of seven notches 80. This will close switch 60 so that the solenoid 52 will be energized, and the tone generator 16 will be sounded. The wheel will continue to advance so that the leg of the switch will ride up out of the first notch, opening the switch 60 and deenergizing the solenoid and then dropping down into the next notch to again close the switch, energize the solenoid and sound the tone generator a second time. This will be repeated in fairly rapid succession until the seven bells have been sounded. When the last notch of the group moves beyond the switch 60, a pin 84 will engage the switch 64, opening the switch and thereby deenergizing the system. It will, of course, be understood that the signals produced by the tone generator 16 will be detected by the pick-up 70, amplified and delivered to the loudspeaker 20. It will also be understood that as the hands advance to 4 oclock, the cycle will be repeated with the exception that the switch 44 will be closed instead of the switch 46 and that eight bells will be sounded rather than the previous seven.

For convenience in keeping track of the bells and for use when initially setting the clock and programmer, the wheel 78 is provided with Arabic numerals from 1 to 8 appearing on the front face thereof and each successively visible through an opening 88 formed in the front panel of the clock. As shown, the numeral 6 is in register with the opening 88 indicating that six bells was the previous time signal sounded.

Also included in the circuit, for convenience, is a reset switch 90 which may be employed to separately energize the transformers and the motor 42 as when first setting the clock.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 5, the tone generator 16 will now be described in detail. As shown, the tone generator is comprised of a cylindrical body or mass bar 92 having an elongated cylindrical, axial recess 94 to accommodate an elongated tone bar or reed 96. The reed 96 is mounted by its inner end to the body 92 at the base of the recess 94 and extends coaxially outward from the body. A set screw 97 may be employed to secure the reed in place. The reed is formed with a pair of reduced portions 98 and 100 spaced along the length of the reed. The position of these reduced portions determines the quality of the tone signal generated when the reed is hit sharply along its length, as by a striker 102 mounted for axial movement in the solenoid 52. It will be understood that by selectively locating the reduced portions 98 and 100 in relation to the nodes of the reed that a variation in the tone of the reed may be obtained. Typically, the reed is fabricated from Ms. oil-tempered steel of circular cross-section and generally about 12" in length.

Two pairs of opposed openings 104 and 106 extend radially through the body 92, one pair near either end with the lower opening of thepair 106 receiving in threaded engagement the solenoid 52 and the upper opening of the pair 104 receiving the tone pickup 70, also in threaded engagement.

The solenoid 52 includes a threaded tubular sleeve or nipple 108 which is screwed into one of the openings 106 and locked by means of a nut 110. The sleeve 108 carries a coil 112 connected by the leads 53 and 56 to the transformer 50, as previously indicated. Mounted within the tubular sleeve is an annular collar 114 loosely supporting the striker 102 which is formed with a nonferrous tubular head portion 115' flanged at 116 to engage the collar 114 and having a tapered shank portion 117 of ferrous material at its lower end. It will be understood that when the coil 112 is energized, by closing the switch 60, the striker 102 will fly up, off the collar 104 and hit against the reed 96, causing it to vibrate at its natural frequency. When the coil 112 is deenergized by opening the switch 60, the striker will drop back under the force of gravity to the collar 104. By turning the sleeve 108 and nut 110, the rest position of the striker can be adjustedto or away-from the reed 96 to compensate for differences in available voltages and to vary the force of impact against the reed.

The tone pickup 70 includes a tubular steel ni-pple 118 screwed into one of the openings 104 and locked by' a nut 120. A cap 122 closes the outer end of the nipple 118 and is provided with a small aperture to accommo-.

date the leads 72 and 74. Disposed within the sleeve 118 is a coil 124 and magnetic core 125 embedded in a suitable potting material 126. As the reed 96 vibrates, it will induce a current in the coil 124, which current will be fed to the amplifier through the leads 72 and 74. The sensitivityof the pick-up may be adjusted by moving it closer or further from the reed, as desired, and it will be appreciated that the further the pickup is from the read, the less will be its sensitivity. .This adjustment may be made by merely turning both the nipple 118 and the nut in the appropriate direction.

The entire tone generator assembly is mounted to the frame 22 by means of a semi-rigid plastic strap 126 (FIGS. 2 and 3) that prevents loading of the mass and damps out any spurious vibrations developed by the rest of the system. The strap 126 engages the tone generat'or at its node point to prevent damping since it will be appreciated thatif the connection were made elsewhere the vibrations of the tone bar would decay rapidly. The mass bar 92 may be considered as a modification of a tuning fork stern which has been made symmetrical and extended around the tine anchored in its base. This permits the mounting of accessories such as the striker and pickup without damping out the signal. It will be appreciated that with a conventional tuning fork such accessories if mounted on an extension arm would damp out the vibrations.

Normally, the amplified tone signal is fed to the local loudspeaker 20 which is housed in the cabinet 10. However, in some installations, it may be desired that the tone signal be delivered to a remote speaker 130 and for this purpose a single double throw switch 132 is provided for switching the output of the amplifier 68 from the local speaker 20 to the remote speaker 130. As shown in FIG. 6 the remote speaker may be provided with its own power supply 134 and amplifier 136.

AS, an added feature, the two speakers 20 and 130 may be employed as an intercom system with both speakers being provided with amplifier input leads 138 and 140, each interrupted by paging switches 142 and 144 respectively. It will be understood that by closing the switch 142 and throwing the switch 132 so as to connect with the remote speaker 130 a person may talk into the local speaker 20 and be heard over the remote speaker. The remote speaker, of course, may be used for conversation or the like by closing the switch 144.

The apparatus that has been described herein is eX- tremely efficient and versatile in that the amplifier system normally functions only during a short period of time every half-hour, drawing very little current. In view of the fact that it functions only for short periods, the system may be safely overloaded during periods of operation to provide maximum amplification without damaging the unit. This permits a substantial reduction in the requirements of the amplifier components so that the cost of the amplifying system is considerably less than that of other systems having a comparable amplification factor and which are run continuously. The output volume may be easily regulated and the striker may be disconnected entirely without otherwise affecting the system. Furthermore, the bells sound precisely on the hour and half-hour, regularly and automatically with a tone that is substantially identical to that of a ships bell.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the illustrated embodiment, it will be understood that numerous modifications thereto will appear to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description and accompanying drawings should be taken as illustrative of the invention rather than in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to obtain by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An electronic ships clock, comprising (a) a timing clock having hour, minute and second hands,

(b) power means for driving said clock,

(c) a motor,

(d) a programming wheel drivingly connected to said motor,

(e) said wheel being provided with at least two programs,

(f) a tone generator responsive to operation of said wheel,

(g) an amplifying system connected to said tone generator for amplifying the output thereof,

(h) control means cyclically actuated by said timing clock for starting said motor and energizing said amplifying system according to one program,

(i) first actuating means responsive to operation of said programming Wheel for intermittently actuating said tone generator according to another program,

(j) second actuating means responsive to operation of said programming wheel for separately operating said motor and said amplifying system after said motor and said system have been initially started by said timing clock,

(k) stop means connected to said wheel for stopping said motor and de-energizing said amplifying system upon completion of operation of said tone generator according to said other program.

2. An electronic ships clock, comprising (a) a timing clock having hour, minute and second hands,

(b) power means for driving said clock,

(c) a motor,

(d) a programming wheel drivingly connected to said motor,

(e) said wheel being provided with at least two programs,

(f) a tone generator responsive to operation of said wheel,

(g) a transistorized amplifying system connected to said tone generator for amplifying the output thereof,

(h) first switch means connected to said motor and amplifying system and cyclically actuated by said minute hand for starting said motor and energizing said amplifying system according to one program,

(i) second switch means connected to said tone generator and responsive to operation of said programming wheel for intermittently actuating said tone generator according to another program,

(i) third switch means connected to said motor and amplifying system and responsive to operation of said programming wheel for separately operating said motor and said system have been initially started by said timing clock,

(k) stop means connected to said wheel for said third switch means to stop said motor and de-energize said amplifying system upon completion of operation of said tone generator according to said other program.

3. An electronic ships clock, comprising (a) a timing clock having hour, minute and second hands,

(b) power means for driving said clock,

(c) a motor,

(d) a movable programming device drivingly connected to said motor,

(e) a signal generator responsive to operation of said device,

(f) a transistorized amplifying system connected to said signal generator for amplifying the output thereof,

(g) first switch means connected to said motor and amplifying system and cyclically actuated by said minute hand for initially starting said motor and energizing said amplifying system,

(h) second switch means connected to said signal generator and responsive to operation of said programming device for intermittently actuating said signal generator,

(i) third switch means connected to said motor and amplifying system and responsive to operation of said programming device for independently completing a circuit to said motor and said amplifying system after said motor and said system have been initially started by said minute hand,

(j) stop means connected to said device for reversing said third switch means to said motor and de-energize said amplifying system upon completion of operation of said signal generator.

4. An electronic ships clock, comprising (a) a timing clock having hour, minute and second hands,

(b) power means for driving said clock,

(c) a motor,

(d) a movable programming wheel drivingly connected to said motor,

(e) a signal generator responsive to operation of said wheel,

(f) a transistorized amplifying system connected to said signal generator for amplifying the output thereof,

(g) first switch means forming part of a circuit in said motor and amplifying system and cyclically actuated by said second hand,

(h) second switch means forming another part of a circuit to said motor and amplifying system and cyclically actuated by said minute hand for starting said motor and energizing said amplifying system,

(i) third switch means connected to said signal generator and responsive to operation of said programming wheel for intermittently actuating said signal generator,

(j) fourth switch means connected to said motor and amplifying system and responsive to operation of said programming wheel for independently completing a circuit to said motor and said amplifying system after said motor and said system have been initially started by said second and minute hands, and,

h (k) stop means connected to said wheel for opening said fourth switch means to stop said motor and deenergize said amplifying system upon completion of operation of said tone generator.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Mauthe 5819 Clement 5838 Crowe 58-19 Carlson 29177 Mazur 5813 Norton 5838 Ager-wick 5838 Kunz 340-384 Beiser 20038 Rowe et a1. 5838 Leach 5838 Tyler 5838 Maas 5838 Marr et al 340-384 Kramer 589 Atkins et a]. 5850 20 LEYLAND M. MARTIN, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH P. STRIZAK, Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRONIC SHIP''S CLOCK, COMPRISING (A) A TIMING CLOCK HAVING HOUR, MINUTE AND SECOND HANDS, 